When a decomposed body turns up in the desert in June 2018, law enforcement in California work to ID the victim. The web of secrets, sex and lies that unfold reveal a grim picture of what a young man was willing to do for love.
Henry Stange (Source) Heavy.com
Ashlie Stapp Mug Shot (Source) Murrieta Police Department
Curtis Krueger Mug Shot (Source) Riverside County Sheriff’s Office
Curtis Krueger and Ashlie Stapp in May 2018 (Source) Department of Defense via Marine Corps Times
Curtis Krueger in court (Source) The Desert Sun
Ashlie Stapp in court (Source) the Desert Sun
Joshua Tree National Park Map (Source) Google maps
Joshua Tree National Park Image (Source) National Park Service
Episode Source Material
- The Desert Sun: Marine, girlfriend arrested in slaying of man whose body found in Joshua Tree National Park. By City News Service Staff.
- Daily Bulletin: 2 accused of killing Murrieta man whose body was found in Joshua Tree. By Brian Rokos.
- Heavy.com: Curtis Krueger & Ashlie Stapp. 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. By Jessica McBride.
- Newsweek: A Murder Conspiracy Charge, Alleged Drug Ring, Sexual Harassment and Stalking Command Crisis at California Marine Base. By James LaPorta.
- The Desert Sun: Marine, girlfriend arrested in Joshua Tree homicide released, DA declines murder charges. By City News Service Staff.
- KESQ: 29 Palms Marine & woman released from jail after DA declines to file murder charges. By Staff.
- Superior Court of California, Riverside County: Curtis Krueger & Ashlie Stapp Affidavits in Support of Arrest Warrants. Filed December 7, 2018. Hard copies of court records retrieved and digitized on January 23, 2024.
- Superior Court of California, Riverside County: Curtis Krueger Criminal Complaints. Filed December 7, 2018. Hard copies of court records retrieved and digitized on January 23, 2024.
- Superior Court of California, Riverside County: Curtis Krueger Felony In Custody Arraignment Minutes. Filed December 7, 2018. Hard copies of court records retrieved and digitized on January 23, 2024.
- NBC4: Marine Charged with Murdering Murrieta Man Found Dead in Joshua Tree Shallow Grave. By staff.
- Marine Corps Times: Marine lieutenant charged with murder of man found buried in Joshua Tree National Park. By Shawn Snow.
- San Bernardino County Sentinel: Girlfriend Implicated Marine Lieutenant in Death of Older Interloper. By Mark Gutglueck.
- Hi-Desert Star: Investigators describe love triangle before murder. By Jene Estrada.
- Superior Court of California, Riverside County: Curtis Krueger Order For Physical Examination by USMC. Filed January 15, 2019. Hard copies of court records retrieved and digitized on January 23, 2024.
- The Desert Sun: Prosecutors in Marine murder case reveal details of alleged killing, Joshua Tree burial. By Christopher Damien.
- The Desert Sun: Phone records led to murder charge: part 1 By Christopher Damien.
- The Desert Sun: Phone records led to murder charge: part 2 By Christopher Damien.
- Marine Corps Times: An inside look into the strange case, possible love triangle of a Marine lieutenant charged with murder of man found in Joshua Tree National Park. By Shawn Snow.
- Superior Court of California, Riverside County: Ashlie Stapp Criminal Complaints. Filed May 8, 2019. Hard copies of court records retrieved and digitized on January 23, 2024.
- The Desert Sun: Woman arrested in connection with death of Murrieta man. By staff.
- The Desert Sun: Woman charged with kidnapping murder victim found buried in shallow Joshua Tree grave. By Christopher Damien.
- The Desert Sun: Second suspect tied to murder case charged with kidnapping: part 1. By Christopher Damien.
- The Desert Sun: Second suspect tied to murder case charged with kidnapping: part 2. By Christopher Damien.
- Superior Court of California, Riverside County: Ashlie Stapp Plea Agreement Form. Filed June 19, 2019. Hard copies of court records retrieved and digitized on January 23, 2024.
- Superior Court of California, Riverside County: Ashlie Stapp Sentencing Form. Filed June 20, 2019. Hard copies of court records retrieved and digitized on January 23, 2024.
- Superior Court of California, Riverside County: Curtis Krueger Preliminary Hearing Minutes. Filed June 27, 2019. Hard copies of court records retrieved and digitized on January 23, 2024.
- The Desert Sun: Judge: Marine’s murder case can move to trial after tests, GPD data, computer files and ex-girlfriend’s testimony build case. By Christopher Damien.
- The Desert Sun: Marine’s murder case can go to trial judge rules: part 1. By Christopher Damien.
- The Desert Sun: Marine’s murder case can go to trial judge rules: part 2. By Christopher Damien.
- The Desert Sun: These local marines are linked to killing: part 1. By Colin Atagl.
- The Desert Sun: These local marines are linked to killing: part 2. By Colin Atagl.
- Superior Court of California, Riverside County: Ashlie Stapp Allegation of Violation of Probation. Filed November 7, 2019. Hard copies of court records retrieved and digitized on January 23, 2024.
- The Desert Sun: Woman linked to body found in national park is back in jail. By Christopher Damien.
- Superior Court of California, Riverside County: Curtis Krueger People’s Statement of Facts. Submitted to court May 4, 2020. Filed by clerk August 3, 2020. Hard copies of court records retrieved and digitized on January 23, 2024.
- The Desert Sun: Former Marine accused of killing romantic rival, a Murrieta amateur radio operator, heads to trial. By Christopher Damien.
- The Desert Sun: Ex-marine heads to trial in murder case. By Christopher Damien.
- The Desert Sun: Wiretapped: Police secretly recorded former Marine accused of killing his girlfriend’s lover. By Christopher Damien.
- The Desert Sun: Wiretap recording played in former Marine’s murder trial: part 1. By Christopher Damien.
- The Desert Sun: Wiretap recording played in former Marine’s murder trial: part 2. By Christopher Damien.
- The Desert Sun: Former Marine accused of killing Murrieta man claims self-defense: part 1. By Christopher Damien.
- The Desert Sun: Former Marine accused of killing Murrieta man claims self-defense: part 2. By Christopher Damien.
- The Desert Sun: Jury deliberating in murder trial tied to body found in 2018 in park: part 1. By Christopher Damien.
- The Desert Sun: Jury deliberating in murder trial tied to body found in 2018 in park: part 2. By Christopher Damien.
- The Desert Sun: Former Marine guilty of second-degree murder, assault of Murrieta man found buried in Joshua Tree National Park. By Christopher Damine.
- The Desert Sun: Ex-marine guilty of second-degree murder. By Christopher Damine.
- Superior Court of California, Riverside County: Curtis Krueger Guilty Verdicts. Issued by jury on September 8, 2020 Filed by clerk on September 10, 2020. Hard copies of court records retrieved and digitized on January 23, 2024.
- Marine Corps Times: 29 Palms Marine convicted in Joshua Tree love triangle murder. By Philip Athey.
- Superior Court of California, Riverside County: Curtis Krueger Sentencing Minutes. Filed on October 22, 2020. January 23, 2024.
- Superior Court of California, Riverside County: Curtis Krueger Notice of Appeal. Filed on October 22, 2020. Hard copies of court records retrieved and digitized on January 23, 2024.
- The Desert Sun: Former Twentynine Palms Marine sentenced to life for murder, regrets taking and ‘American’s life’ By Christopher Damine.
- The Desert Sun: Twentynine Palms Marine sentenced to life for murder: part 1. By Christopher Damine.
- The Desert Sun: Twentynine Palms Marine sentenced to life for murder: part 2. By Christopher Damine.
- Marine Corps Times: ‘The life that you could have had is forever gone’: Marine sentenced for murder of his girlfriend’s sex-for-drugs lover. By Philip Athey.
- Superior Court of California, Riverside County: Ashlie Stapp Motion for Probation Modification. Filed March 18, 2021. Hard copies of court records retrieved and digitized on January 23, 2024.
- California Court of Appeals, Fourth District, Second Division: People v. Krueger
- California Incarcerated Records and Information Search Database: Curtis Lee Krueger Inmate Profile.